Excel arrow keys disabled after copy-paste special a new series into a chart and then modify that series

Question

This is not a Scroll Lock issue.

I am running Microsoft Office 365. I open an existing Excel file which has an existing chart object on the worksheet. I copy-paste special a new series from that worksheet into that chart. I then manually change the definition of that series (or any of the original series in the chart) in the formula bar without first de-selecting the chart (by clicking on a worksheet cell) and re-selecting it. When I then de-select the chart and select a cell on the worksheet, the arrow keys become disabled and the only way I can re-enable them is to close the file and reopen it.

Again, this is not a Scroll Lock issue - Scroll Lock is off. The arrow keys do nothing, they do not move the active cell nor do they scroll the worksheet. It doesn't happen if before modifying the series I first de-select the chart and re-select it.

This is, understandably, a fairly esoteric edge case, but I've been using Excel for years and this seems to have started only with Microsoft 365 so I'm fighting very ingrained habits. I've experienced this on different laptops working for different companies.

Mike

Answer 1

Hi Mike, thanks for the details. Can you confirm if you are editing the series formula while the chart is still selected?

In Excel 365, arrow keys can stop working if you edit a chart series formula while the chart is active. I recommend first clicking any worksheet cell to de-select the chart, then editing the formula in the formula bar. After that, you can re-select the chart if needed. Following this approach prevents the arrow key issue without extra workarounds.